Material supply chute

ABSTRACT

A plurality of discrete bar elements are arranged in side-byside relationship and together constitute a material supply chute having a general plane. Means are provided for individually displacing the bar elements with reference to this general plane so that individual bar elements can be disposed upwardly or downwardly with reference to the others.

United States Patent Leutelt 1 May 2, 1972 MATERIAL SUPPLY CHUTE v R rences Cited [72] inventor: Helmut Leutelt, Innsbruck, Austria UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assignee: Hazemag Hartzerkleinerungs-Und Zement- 3,106,523 10/1963 Couture ..24l/8l Maschinenbau-Gesellschatt m.b.l'l., 2 3 9 1 9 5 1959 Andreas lllll Muenster, Germany 1,591,479 7/l926 Erickson ..l93/3 [22] Filed: Dec. 31,1969 E J h w Primary xaminerosep egbreit [211 App! 889'590 AssistantExaminer-Alfred N. Goodman Attorney-Michael S. Striker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 3, 1969 Austria ..A 41/69 [571 ABSTRACT A plurality of discrete bar elements are arranged in side-byside relationship and together constitute a material supply n i 58 Field oiSearch ..l93/l,2R,2A,2B,2C, chm a 8mm] Plane" mans pmded dividually displacing the bar elements with reference to this general plane so that individual bar elements can be disposed upwardly or downwardly with reference to the others.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to material supply chutes, and more particularly to material supply chutes which find advantageous use in rotary fragmentation mills.

As has just been pointed out the present invention has generally applicability in the field of material supply chutes. However, because it is of particular advantage in rotary fragmentation mills it will hereafter be described with respect to its use in such mills and with reference to the problems which exist in such mills utilizing chutes constructed according to the prior art. In rotary fragmentation mills, where material moves along a chute towards a rotor onto which it falls and from which it is flung off to impinge against suitable wall means to thereby become fragmented, it is desirable that the material be supplied to the rotor evenly distributed over the entire axial length thereof. This is true particularly of rotors having a substantial axial length. It has been found, however, that this is difficult to accomplish. Usually the conveyor belts which supply the material to the chute along which it moves towards the rotor, have a substantially smaller width than the axial length of the rotor and therefore supply the material to 'the middle of the supply chute which latter, even if it has a width corresponding to the axial length of the rotor, is incapable of distributing the material from the middle towards the opposite sides as the material moves from the inlet end to the outlet end of the chute.

The result of supplying material unevenly .distributed to the rotor, that is supplying more material to one axial increment of the rotor than to others, is that the contact portions--such as hammers or the like-provided on the circumference of the rotor undergo uneven wear by contact with the differently distributed material. Furthermore, the size distribution of the fragmentation product obtained is disadvantageously influenced under these circumstances because the fragmentation chamber is normally delimited on the side opposite the outlet end of the chute by tiltable plates which are so arranged that their free ends are located very closely to the circumference of the rotor and define therewith only a narrow gap. Evidently if the contact portions on the circumference of the rotor are unevenly worn it is not possible to provide for a precise setting of this gap. This is disadvantageous because many fragmentation mills, particularly those utilizing so-called hammer-type rotors cooperate with comminuting devices which partially surround the rotor and receive fragmentation product therefrom, and which devices operate properly only if the aforementioned gap can be adjusted so as to be of identical width over the entire axial length of the rotor.

Furthermore, it has been found that once uneven wear of the contact portions of the rotor has begun, it will progress rapidly because the fragmentation product tends to follow the path of least resistance and pass through the enlarged section of the gap which is present where the contact portions have undergone excessive wear. Evidently, this further increases the wear so that the same progresses rapidly, as pointed out above. This is, in fact, true not only of the aforementioned gap but also of the gap which exists between the rotor circumference and the outlet end of the supply chute.

Attempts to overcome this problem have been made but have not been successful. One such attempt has involved the arrangement of chain mesh above the upper surface of the supply chute so that the lower edge of such chain mesh is freely suspended with a certain spacing above the upper surface of the supply chute, perhaps even rests on this surface. The purpose was to brake the downwardly moving material. Another attempt has involved the securing of deflecting elements on the upper surface of the supply chute which are intended to act somewhat in the manner of a snowplow and divert or deflect downwardly moving material laterally in order to obtain a more even distribution. All of these attempts to rectify the problem have been less than unqualified successes. Not only is it always necessary to conduct time-consuming tests and to provide readjustments as diflerent materials are supplied along the chute or as the material mix changes --including changes in the moisture content of the materialbut also, and particularly disadvantageous, is the fact that these distributing devices tend to catch portions of the material and retain them with the result that additional portions soon become backed up behind the thus-retained material and that the chute will eventually be clogged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a material supply chute of the above-discussed type which is not possessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly it is an object to provide such a material supply chute which permits an even or at least substantially even distribution of'material over the entire width of the chute and therefore, if the chute is used in conjunction with a rotary fragmentation mill, over the entire axial length of the rotor of this fragmentation mill.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a material supply chute which can be used in conjunction with existing installations, requiring no auxiliary devices and leading to an even wear of the contact portions on rotors in fragmentation mills with which the chute may be utilized.

In purusance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a material supply chute, particularly for use with rotary fragmentation mills, which briefly stated comprises a plurality of discrete bar elements arranged in side-by-side relationship and together constituting a chute having a general plane. Means is provided mounting the bar elements for individual displacement with reference to and transversely of this general plane.

It is advantageous if this displacement occurs only at thelower or front end portions of the individual bar elements, that is those end portions which are closer to the rotor of the fragmentation mill. In this manner the incoming material will be deposited on a substantially even surface at the upper end, that is at the rear end portions of the bar elements, and will then become distributed in dependence upon the manner in which individual front end portions are adjusted transversely to the general plane of the chute.

The bar elements may be of elastically yieldable material, such as rubber or synthetic plastic material of requisite mechanical strength. If this is the case, then they may be rigidly mounted at their rear end portions because their front portions can be deflected by virtue of the fact that the elements are elastically yieldable. If the elements are of nonresilient material then they must be mounted at their upper end portions in other manner, for instance pivotably.

It is also advantageous that all of the bar elements in unison-or individual ones of the bar elements-be adjustable lengthwise of themselves, that is movable towards and away from the periphery of the rotor in order-to be able to adjust the gap between the front end portions and the circumference of the rotor as the contact portions of the latter become increas' ingly worn and the gap therefore increases.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic cross-section elevational view of a rotary fragmentation mill utilizing the material supply chute according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line A-B of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before entering into a detailed discussion of the drawing it should be pointed out that material supply chutes consisting wholly or in part of elongated bar elements arranged in parallelism or in substantial parallelism are already known. However, these bar elements in the known constructions are connected with one another and not individually height-adjustable, that is they cannot be individually displaced transversely of the general plane of the chute. The purpose of these constructions, which do not achieve or intend to achieve the advantages of the present invention, is to provide a screening action, permitting a certain portion of the material moving along the chute to fall between and through the gaps defined by adjacent bar elements. These constructions, therefore, have no bearing on the present invention.

Corning now to a discussion of the drawing it will be seen that reference numeral 1 identifies a housing in which there is mounted an axially elongated rotor 3. The latter is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis in direction of the associated curved area (see FIG. 1) and carries on its circumference a plurality of holding structures 2 each of which is provided in the illustrated embodiment with an elongated bar-shaped contact portion 4. The contact portions 4 are removably connected to the members 2, for instance by means of bolts 5 or in analogous manner.

Reference numeral 6 defines an inlet in the housing 1 of the rotary fragmentation mill shown in FIG; 1, and material to be subjected to fragmentation comminution enters through the inlet 6, falls onto the upper surface of the downwardly inclined material supply chute 7 and moves along the latter until it comes in contact with the circumference of the rotor 3 whose contact portions 4 fling it against the pivotably mounted plates 8 and 9 so that it becomes fragmented as a result of impact. The space in which the fragmentation takes place is identified with reference numeral 10 and the once fragmented material leaves the space 10 through the gap 11 defined between the free edges of the plates 8 and 9 and the radially outermost edges of the contact portions 4. This gap 1 1 is adjustable in the illustrated embodiment by means of the screw spindles 12 carrying the plates 8 and 9, and the adjustment-or readjustment-is carried out in dependence upon the degree of fineness of fragmentation particles too large to pass through the gap 11 are retained in the space 10 and continue to be subjected to further fragmentation until they are small enough to pass through the gap 1 1-and also in dependence upon progressive wear of the contact portions 4. Evidently, the contact portions 4 wear away, and as a result the gap 11 increases and the spindles 12 are then utilized for readjustment of the plates 8 and 9 so that the gap 11 again has its desired width. A comminuting grate 13 is arranged partially below and partially surrounding the circumference of the rotor 3. Such comminuting plates are known and it will be appreciated that the material passing through the gap 11 falls onto the grate l3 and there is further reduced in size in known manner. The considerations with reference to the gap 11 between the rotor 3 and the plates 8 and 9 are also true with reference to the gap between the comminuting grate 13 and the rotor 3, and here, again, adjustments may be carried out and must be carried out as necessary.

The material supply chute 7 is constructed in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated it is composed of a plurality of elongated bar elements 7' arranged in side-by-side relationship. These bar elements 7 each have rear end portions remote from and front end portions adjacent to the rotor 3. They are provided at their underside at least at the rear end portions-but preferably also at the front end portions as illustrated-with downwardly open cut-outs 15. The cut-outs 15 at the rear end portions straddle a ridge 14 of a support member 16 which in the illustrated embodiment is of cross-shaped cross-section, so that each of the bar elements 7 is pivotable about the ridge 14. The purpose of providing the cut-outs 15 both at the front and rear ends is to make it possible to reverse the bar elements 7' end for end to compensate for uneven wear over the length of the respective bar elements. In other words, if such reversal is carried out then what in FIG. 1 is the rear end portion would become the front end portion and what is the front end portion would then become the rear end portion.

The support member 16 is mounted on the screw spindles 17 and can thus be shifted lengthwise of the elongation of the bar elements 7' towards and away from the circumference of the rotor 3. Such shifting of course results in concomitant shifting of the bar elements 7' and this makes possible an adjustment of the gap 18 between the leading ends of the bar elements 7 and the rotor 3.

In the illustrated embodiment the front end of each individual bar element 7 is supported on an adjusting screw for screw spindle 19. These in turn are carried by an angle bracket 20 extending lengthwise of the axial extension of the rotor 3, and because of the arrangement of the bracket 20 with one arm thereof extending downwardly in front of the spindles 19, the latter are protected against damage from material being flung ofi the rotor 3. A door 21 closes an opening in the housing 1 through which access may be had to the individual spindles 19 for varying the adjustment thereof. Evidently by threading the spindles l9 upwardly with respect to the bracket 20, the respectively associated front end portion of a bar element 7' is upwardly displaced, and vice versa. This is illustrated in FIG. 1.

It will be appreciated that the bar elements 7' may be located very closely side by side, or that they may be spaced from another and define gaps with each other. In the latter case the bracket 20 may be associated with a vibrator (not illustrated), or the vibrator may be associated with the individual bar elements 7 in another manner, in order to transmit vibratory motion to the bar elements 7' so that quantities of material of requisite size will fall through the gaps between adjacent bar elements 7 with the chute 7 thus also performing a screening function.

Reference numeral 22 defines a plate or analogous member which extends along but spaced from the upper or rear end portions of the bar elements 7'. Theplate 22 is removably mounted and serves to prevent disconnection between the respective bar elements 7' and the support member 16. In other words, it prevents the bar elements 7' at their rear end portions from moving away from the support element 16 to the extent where the rib 14 would be withdrawn from the respective cut-out 15. In order to be able to remove the bar elements 7'for instance to permit them to be reversed end for end-the plate 22 is removably mounted in known manner (not illustrated).

It will be appreciated that it is for instance also possible to provide bores in the bar element 7' at their opposite end portions, instead of the cut-outs l5, and to configurate the sup port member 16 as a rod-or the like which would extend through the bores. However, in that case the removal and replacement, or end for end reversal of the bar elements 7' would be more difficult.

It will be appreciated that by suitably selecting the relationship of adjacent bar elements 7 with reference to one another-that is by having one of the bar elements 7' extend upwardly above one or more adjacent ones-distribution of material entering through the inlet 6 and moving downwardly on the upper surface of the chute 7 can be readily influenced, so that the material can be distributed laterally or across the width of the chute 7 and therefore can be supplied evenly or at least substantially evenly over the entire axial length of the rotor 3. This, in turn, makes it possible to insure even wear of the contact elements 4 on the rotor 3. Again, because of such even wear the gap 11 can be readily and precisely adjusted at all times, and this is important because it is the gap 11 which determines the degree of fineness of comminution of the material.

It is a considerable advantage of the present invention that the adjustments necessary on the chute 7 are both simple and functionally obvious, so that they can be carried out even by unskilled persons. Clearly, as soon as excessive wear is determined at one axial increment of one or more of the contact portions 4, one or more of the bar members 7 leading towards this increment are raised to thereby deflect material laterally away from this increment.

It may be advantageous in certain circumstances and for certain constructions to supply the bar elements 7' in sections, for instance two longitudinally adjacent sections. These can be connected in suitable manner and the rear section can then be mounted rigidly with only the front section being subject to adjustment transversely of the general plane of the chute 7 by the spindles 19. It is also possible to mount the bracket height-adjustably in toto, so that all bar elements 7'or their front sections-can be raised or lowered simultaneously, aside from their individual adjustability. This has not been illustrated but it will be readily evident to those skilled in the art how the bracket 20 will have to be mounted in such a case.

The present invention provides for equalization of the wear of the rotor 3 and the contact portions 4, and therefore contributes to an increased life for these elements which in turn increases the economy of operation of rotary fragmentation mills or analogous apparatuses in conjunction with which the novel chute is utilized. Evidently, the chute can be used in conjunction with a variety of different apparatuses, and quite generally it should be understood that the chute can be used wherever it is essential or desirable that material advancing along the chute be supplied substantially evenly over the entire width of the chute, or that channeling of such material to a particular portion of the lateral extend of the chute be possible.

lt will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a material supply chute which is particularly useful in conjunction with rotary fragmentation mills, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, form the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the specific or generic aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A material supply chute, particularly for use in rotary fragmentation mills, comprising a plurality of discrete bar elements arranged in side-by-side relationship and together constituting a chute having a general plane, said bar elements each having an upper surface and said surfaces together constituting a slide surface having a material receiving end and a material discharging end spaced in a predetermined direction; and separate adjusting means associated with each bar element for selectively and individually adjusting the position of each of said bar elements with reference to said general plane in a sense varying the transverse contour of said slide surface so as to enable material advancing to said discharge end to be directed transversely of said direction to a desired location of said slide surface.

2. A chute as defined in claim 1; further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the position of at least some of said bar elements lengthwise with reference to the remaining bar elements.

3. A chute as defined in claim 1; further comprising adjusting means for displacing said bar elements in unison lengthwise of themselves.

4. A chute as defined in claim 1, said bar elements each having a front end portion and a rear end portion at said discharge and said receiving ends, respectively; further comprising a support member extending beneath said rear end portions supporting the same; and wherein said means pivotably connects said rear end portions with said support member.

5. A chute as defined in claim 4, said rear end portions each having an underside provided with a downwardly open cut-out extending nonnal to the elongation of the respective bar element; and wherein said support member comprises a ridge projecting upwardly and extending normal to the elongation of said bar elements with the respective cut-outs each straddling a portion of said ridge.

6. A chute as defined in claim 5, wherein said support member is of substantially cross-shaped cross-section.

7. A chute as defined in claim 4, said support member being displaceable in longitudinal direction of said bar elements for thereby effecting concomitant displacement of the latter in such direction.

8. A chute as defined in claim 1, said bar elements each having a front end portion and a rear end portion at said discharge and receiving ends, respectively; and wherein said means comprises respective individually height-adjustable abutments each located beneath and cooperating with one of said front end portions for displacing the associated bar element with response to said general plane.

9. A chute as defined in claim 8, said abutments being individually height-adjustable screw spindles.

10. A chute as defined in claim 9, said means further comprising an elongated mounting member mounting all of said screw spindles with freedom of individual height adjustment.

11. A chute as defined in claim 10; further comprising displacing means for displacing said mounting member with said screw spindles in a sense adjusting the height of all of said screw spindles simultaneously.

12. A chute as defined in claim 7; and at least two adjustable threaded spindles arranged at and cooperating with opposite ends of said support member for displacing the latter in said longitudinal direction of said bar elements.

13. A chute as defined in claim 5, said front end portions also each having an underside provided with a downwardly open cut-out for permitting reversal of said end portions of the respective bar elements at the will of an operator and to assure at least substantially even wear at the respective end portions.

14. A chute as defined in claim 5; and further comprising an elongated retaining member removably extending above and out of contact with said rear end portions for preventing. undesired separation of the respective cut-outs from said ridge.

15. A chute as defined in claim 4, said front end portion and said rear end portion of the respective bar elements being discrete portions; and wherein said means mounts only said front end portions for individual displacement with reference to said general plane.

16. A chute as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar elements consist at least in part of rubber of requisite mechanical strength.

17. A chute as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar elements consist at least in part of synthetic plastic of requisite mechanical strength.

18. A chute as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar elements each have a front end portion and a rear end portion and consist of elastically deflectable material; and further comprising mounting means rigidly mounting said rear end portions against displacement.

19. A chute as defined in claim 1; and further comprising vibrating means for imparting vibratory movement to said bar elements.

20. A chute as defined in claim 10; and further comprising vibrator means cooperating with said mounting member for imparting to the latter, and thereby to said bar elements, vibratory movements. 

1. A material supply chute, particularly for use in rotary fragmentation mills, comprising a plurality of discrete bar elements arranged in side-by-side relationship and together constituting a chute having a general plane, said bar elements each having an upper surface and said surfaces together constituting a slide surface having a material receiving end and a material discharging end spaced in a predetermined direction; and separate adjusting means associated with each bar element for selectively and individually adjusting the position of each of said bar elements with reference to said general plane in a sense varying the transverse contour of said slide surface so as to enable material advancing to said discharge end to be directed transversely of said direction to a desired location of said slide surface.
 2. A chute as defined in claim 1; further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the position of at least some of said bar elements lengthwise with reference to the remaining bar elements.
 3. A chute as defined in claim 1; further comprising adjusting means for displacing said bar elements in unison lengthwise of themselves.
 4. A chute as defined in claim 1, said bar elements each having a front end portion and a rear end portion at said discharge and said receiving ends, respectively; further comprising a support member extending beneath said rear end portions supporting the same; and wherein said means pivotably connects said rear end portions with said support member.
 5. A chute as defined in claim 4, said rear end portions each having an underside provided with a downwardly open cut-out extending normal to the elongation of the respective bar element; and wherein said support member comprises a ridge projecting upwardly and extending normal to the elongation of said bar elements with the respective cut-outs each straddling a portion of said ridge.
 6. A chute as defined in claim 5, wherein said support member is of substantially cross-shaped cross-section.
 7. A chute as defined in claim 4, said support member being displaceable in longitudinal direction of said bar elements for thereby effecting concomitant displacement of the latter in such direction.
 8. A chute as defined in claim 1, said bar elements each having a front end portion and a rear end portion at said discharge and receiving ends, respectively; and wherein said means comprises respective individually height-adjustable abutments each located beneath and cooperating with one of said front end portions for displacing the associated bar element with response to said general plane.
 9. A chute as defined in claim 8, said abutments being individually height-adjustable screw spindles.
 10. A chute as defined in claim 9, said means further comprising an elongated mounting member mounting all of said screw spindles with freedom of individual height adjustment.
 11. A chute as defined in claim 10; further comprising displacing means for displacing said mounting member with said screw spindles in a sense adjusting the height of all of said screw spindles simultaneously.
 12. A chute as defined in claim 7; and at least two adjustable threaded spindles arranged at and cooperating with opposite ends of said support member for displacing the latter in said longitudinal direction of said bar elements.
 13. A chute as defined in claim 5, said front end portions also each having an underside proVided with a downwardly open cut-out for permitting reversal of said end portions of the respective bar elements at the will of an operator and to assure at least substantially even wear at the respective end portions.
 14. A chute as defined in claim 5; and further comprising an elongated retaining member removably extending above and out of contact with said rear end portions for preventing undesired separation of the respective cut-outs from said ridge.
 15. A chute as defined in claim 4, said front end portion and said rear end portion of the respective bar elements being discrete portions; and wherein said means mounts only said front end portions for individual displacement with reference to said general plane.
 16. A chute as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar elements consist at least in part of rubber of requisite mechanical strength.
 17. A chute as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar elements consist at least in part of synthetic plastic of requisite mechanical strength.
 18. A chute as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar elements each have a front end portion and a rear end portion and consist of elastically deflectable material; and further comprising mounting means rigidly mounting said rear end portions against displacement.
 19. A chute as defined in claim 1; and further comprising vibrating means for imparting vibratory movement to said bar elements.
 20. A chute as defined in claim 10; and further comprising vibrator means cooperating with said mounting member for imparting to the latter, and thereby to said bar elements, vibratory movements. 